RIYADH — Under the patronage of Rumaih bin Mohammad Al-Rumaih, president of the Public Transport Authority (PTA), Uber has announced Wednesday that more than 140,000 Saudi partners have joined the technology. The leading ride hailing app, awarded a certificate for regulatory alignment by the Public Transport Authority (PTA) in April, had initially set out to reach 100,000 Saudi drivers by 2020, as part of its commitment to providing economic opportunities to Saudis in the Kingdom.

The announcement was made as Uber celebrated the unveiling of its new headquarters in Saudi Arabia. The office will welcome both new and existing partners. It accommodates onboarding new partners on the app, in addition to ongoing support to current Uber partners, who will now benefit from a fixed destination for all questions, comments and inquiries. The new office will also house a working space for all the company’s Saudi employees.

Even in its early days, the active support center is a testament to the economic benefits provided through the Uber technology. Over 65% of Saudi drivers are on Uber part-time, and have joined the Uber app for the flexible economic opportunity it provides, allowing them the opportunity to supplement their income. Currently, there are more than 80,000 drivers using Uber monthly - the highest number of drivers in the Middle East.

For his part, Al Rumaih pointed to the value the PTA puts in its partnerships with the private sector, noting the important role that Uber is playing as a licensed partner in the Kingdom’s Saudization drive, and across the transport sector generally.

Commenting during the launch, Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, VP & RGM EMEA, Uber said: “Meeting our 100,000 milestone in less than a year is an achievement we are extremely proud of, and the opening of our office today is a testament to the positive impact our technology has brought to the Kingdom. Of course, we owe our success to the partners driving on Uber, many of whom have recognized that Uber is the right choice for anyone who wants a way to earn a living on their own schedules. This is just the beginning and we are keen to continue to create change that’s meaningful and improves the driver experience on Uber.”

Following the official ribbon-cutting by Al Rumaih, Gore-Coty walked attendees through a presentation on the future of urban mobility, and the role that Uber is playing in its development. Zeid Hreish, GM of Uber KSA, then honored five of the company’s most committed partners, and led attendees through a tour of the office that featured a demonstration of Uber’s global driver technology - including Driver verification, In-App Chat, and Driver Destinations.

Uber in Saudi Arabia was launched in 2014, and today boasts a reach that extends to 18 Saudi cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The company has signed a number of agreements of late that provides customers with a wide range of transportation options, including one with The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) that allows for dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations at GACA managed airports across the Kingdom. — SG